On November 7, 1492, a meteorite weighing nearly 300 pounds fell in a field near Ensisheim, near Basel, making a hole as deep as the height of a man. The robust citizens moved the rock to town, where it resided in the church for centuries, until the church collapsed. The meteorite’s landing was well documented in the media of the day.

Part of the meteorite is still preserved in Ensisheim, though pieces have been taken away for study or stolen. It is the earliest witnessed meteorite fall in the West from which pieces are still preserved.

This fascinating paper in the NASA database traces the “impact” of the meteorite on politics, society, and legend through the centuries.